Production and Characterization of Chitosan Fibers and 3‐D Fiber Mesh Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications

Abstract

This study reports on the production of chitosan fibers and 3-D fiber meshes for the use as tissue engineering scaffolds. Both structures were produced by means of a wet spinning technique. Maximum strain at break and tensile strength of the developed fibers were found to be 8.5% and 204.9 MPa, respectively. After 14 d of immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and inductively coupled plasma emission (ICP) spectroscopy analyses showed that a bioactive Ca-P layer was formed on the surface of the fibers, meaning that they exhibit a bioactive behavior. The samples showed around 120% max. swelling in physiological conditions. The pore sizes of 3-D chitosan fiber mesh scaffolds were observed to be in the range of 100-500 microm by SEM. The equilibrium-swelling ratio of the developed scaffolds was found to be around 170% (w/w) in NaCl solution at 37 degrees C. Besides that, the limit swelling strain was less than 30%, as obtained by mechanical spectroscopy measurements in the same conditions. The viscoelastic properties of the scaffolds were also evaluated by both creep and dynamic mechanical tests. By means of using short-term MEM extraction test, both types of structures (fibers and scaffolds) were found to be non-cytotoxic to fibroblasts. Furthermore, osteoblasts directly cultured over chitosan fiber mesh scaffolds presented good morphology and no inhibition of cell proliferation could be observed.Osteoblast-like cells proliferating over chitosan based fibers after 7 d of culture.

Preparation and characterization of silver containing chitosan fibers

“…In recent years, chitosan has found widespread uses as a novel biomaterial. 1,2 Fibers made from chitosan have been known for a long time [3][4][5] and in recent years, woven, nonwoven, and knitted structures of chitosan fibers have been made and used in wound care and other biomedical fields. As a fibrous material, chitosan fibers possess both the novel bioactivities of chitosan and the good processibilities of a fiber.…”

Effect of a Three-Dimensional Chitosan Porous Scaffold on the Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Chondrocytes

“…Chitosan is similar to glycosaminoglycans (GAG), which are present in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of cartilage tissue, and has been reported to be nontoxic, bioabsorbable and to promote healing. Similar to GAG, chitosan may provide an attachment site for cells within the tissue scaffold during colonization or after implantation in the organism [Tuzlakoglu et al, 2004;Di Martino et al, 2005]. Moreover, chitosan can be molded into porous structures at a low cost [Mao et al, 2003b].…”

Chitosan – a promising biomaterial in veterinary medicine

“…The most interesting, however, is chitin, a substance of animal origin which is part of the external shells of invertebrates and the cell walls of bacteria and fungi (Tuzlakoglu et al 2004, Majima et al 2007). Its features are closest to tendon properties.…”

“…Currently, intensive research is being done on biomaterials, because they may fulfill the scaffold role (Madihally et al 1999, Khor et al 2003). They are not intended to replace tissue in an organism, but contribute to the normal proliferation of cells in this region, which is particularly important in tissues in which the corresponding cell arrangement determines its usefulness (tendon, bone) (Tuzlakoglu et al 2004, Majima et al 2007). …”